PM’s election rescheduled for Monday

Kathmandu, 19 Aug. A runoff election for prime minister will be held Monday 23 August.
Parliament’s business advisory committee took the decision Wednesday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel are the only two candidates for the fifth round of the staggered vote as Madhav Nepal continues as a caretaker prime minister.
Nnnn

UML general secretary, president meeting

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel held lan hour-look meeting with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Wednesday and discussed the political stalemate.
UML has been asking candidates of UCPN(Maoist) and NC to withdraw from the staggered vote for prime minister and attempt form a national unity government.
UML has stayed neutral in the vote forcing an inconclusive vote.
Nnnn

First gay marriage recorded

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: A Hindu priest performed the first wedding ceremony in Nepal for a foreign gay couple a rights group said Wednesday as activists and tourist agencies increasingly promote the Himalayan nation as a gay-friendly destination, AP Reports l from Kathmandu.
The ceremony was held Tuesday night in Kathmandu for Sanjay Shah, 42, a Briton from Leicester, and an Indian man who did not want to be identified, said Sunit Pant, a lawmaker and the nation’s most prominent gay activist.
Nnnn

Maoist lawmaker resigns

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: Maoist lawmaker Ram Kumar Sharma resigned from parliament/constituent assembly Wednesday.
Sharma was elected from Mohottari-4 on a TMLP ticket.
TMLP asked parliament to revoke his membership after defecting to Maoists one year ago.
Sharma alleged he received five threatening phone calls from a top Indian diplomat during voting for the prime minister.
nnnn

Two Chinese arrested

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: Two Chinese nationals were arrested Wednesday at Baharabishe while attempting to snuggle $270,362 across the border to Tibet.
Four Nepalis were also arrested.
Nnnn

President visiting China 31 Oct.

Kathmandu, 19 Aug.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to visit China at October end, affording to the a source at the foreign ministry, Republica reports.
The source said the president will visit China to attend the concluding ceremony of Shanghai Expo adding that Dr Yadav will leave for China on 31 October.
nnnn